Individual carrying pack



May 27, 1958 B. 1. DAVIS INDIVIDUAL CARRYING PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1956 Flag-J FIG I. DAVIS INVENTOR.

May 27, 1958 I. DAVIS INDIVIDUAL CARRYING PACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1956 .6 V A D IN V EN TOR.

INVENTOR.

May 27, 1958 l. DAVIS INDIVIDUAL CARRYING PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1956 2,835,334 Patented May 27, 1958 2,836,334 INDIVIDUAL CARRYING PACK Budd I. Davis, Seattle, Wash. Application April 9, 1956, Serial No. 577,071 7 claims. or. 224-25 This present invention relates to the general art of packs used by individuals in camping and the like, and more particularly, this invention relates to a pack for individual use which is constructed of light weight metal tubing and is provided with unique means for adapting the basic pack frame to a wide variety of back portable loads.

The back packing or the carrying of loads on the back of an individual has, of course, a history going back as far as mankind and a large number of devices have been produced to make the carrying of back transported loads more easily achieved. Means have been provided, for instance, for the ventilation of the space behind the back and for the provision of bearing points so that pressure will not be exerted upon certain of the muscular structure which can ill afford to accept pressure, but rather the pressure is distributed over those areas that are sufficiently muscled to readily admit of heavy loading. There have been in general use many types of frames which in turn were supplied with straps over the shoulders and following the same general plan, baskets have been provided for the attainment of carried products. In addition a large number of unframed pack sacks, knapsacks, and the like, have been produced from time to time. A study of these various items over a considerable period leads to the conclusion that it is very desirable that a pack be provided with a rigid frame so that the loading can be maintained in the desired position and the rigid framing in turn insures that the bearing of the load upon the packers back will be maintained on the basis that experience has proven to be most acceptable.

In my individual carrying pack I have therefore provided a rigid frame made of light Weight metal tubing. To this frame are secured the carrying straps with provision for their attachment such that the spread of the straps can be changed very quickly to give a change in bearing point of the load carrying straps as they pass over the shoulders. A wrap-around woven cover ofvduck, preferably, is provided so that a smooth bearing comes up against the 'users back and with this arrangement the curving of the cross members of the main frame provides a definite air pocket between this covering and the framing and in turn holds the framing away from the users back. When one goes seriously into camping and back packing or on a commercial basis one is immediately confronted with the necessity of having a pack unit that readily adapts itself to the carrying of a wide range of loads. With this thought in mind I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings three different forms of attachments that can be easily and fixedly secured to my pack frame. It is therefore believed that I have produced an individual carrying pack that overcomes many of the disadvantages and inconveniences of the packs as now available on the market.

The principal object of my present invention therefore is to provide an individual carrying pack formed of light weight metal tubing and associated fabric which is arranged so that a number of auxiliary load carrying devices can be secured to the basic frame and thus adapt the carrier to a wide range of back packing activities.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a back pack in which means are provided for securely positioning and maintaining a load in the adjusted position during the entire time it is being carried.

A further object of this present invention is to provide means for selectively varying the load bearing points while the pack is being carried.

A further object of this present invention is to provide means whereby a load may be positioned on the carrier so as to place the center of gravity high on the back of the one carrying it, and thus prevent the necessity for the person carrying the pack to lean far and unnaturally forward in order that the center of gravity should not tend to tip him over backwards.

A further object of this present invention is to provide adjustable means whereby the height of attachment of the load carrying straps on their upper attachment can be varied at the Will of the user.

A further object of this present invention is to provide means whereby the spread of the upper anchors of the load carrying straps can be changed at will and during the period the pack is being carried.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of my individual carrying pack;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the main pack frame and an auxiliary frame secured thereto such as is useful in carrying case goods, an outboard motor or forest type fire pumps oritems of that order;

Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which the entire pack is assembled and made up, the same is being shown in perspective arrangement;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the basic frame of my pack together with certain portions of a duck covering used to space the pack from the users back and also showing how the pack cover is secured in place;

Figure 5 shows a preferred form of load carrying pannier which is preferably packed apart from the frame and then secured to the frame, as illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the vertical adjustment means for the cross-bar which positions the upper strap anchor;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating my basic frame and one form of auxiliary frame, such as is adapted for the carrying of an infant.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the main frame of my individual carrying pack. This frame consists of spaced and parallel side portions, as 12 and 14, which are joined at their top by a continuous run of the same tubing to provide the raised head protecting portion 16, of the frame. At its lower end side members 12 and 14 joined in a fixed manner as by welding thereto, to a somewhat enlarged transverse cross member 18. This member is provided with lateral extensions, as 2i and 21, so that the carrying strap attaching eyes, as 22, may be well spaced apart and at a distance from the load itself so that a very free action of the straps can be thus secured. Intermediate the two ends of frame 10 are provided a plurality of transverse frame members, as 24 and 26. These members are backwardly bowed so as to give additional clearance for the users back.

' 12 and 14 throughout a considerable range.

42 is the adjustable pack cover 7 Thongs or cords 40 to cross members 24 and 26, 'is a vertically adjustable cross member 28. This member with a lock screw as 32, to members 30 maybe slid up and down on side'members When the position is secured, screws. 32,, one in each of members 30, are then engaged in the appropriate threadedopenings, as 34, in the side members 12 and 14, so that a fixed positioning of transverse member 28 is thus obtainedand one that will not be disarranged by desired adjusted the load which is applied to this frame member by the two carrying straps36.' h The frame members, as 12, 14, 16, 18 and 28 are provided with attaching loops or rings 38. These are secured by drilling two small holes in the frame mem bersandthen engaging therein the open endsof a substantial. hog ring, and then closing the ring so that the rings become, in effect, pivotal loops secured to their respective frame members. These hog rings which give the effect of a Dring, are used for the lacing cords, as

Q 40,.by which the various duck portions of the pack are secured in place. It is to be noted that where the wraparound cover 42 in the vertical side provided as at 44, so that the rings can be passed through the covering'and thus the covering itself not be forced'to.

meets withrings 38, and particularly bars 12 and 14, that bound slits are voids of any kind on the interior of the pack. When the 7 has fixedly secured at each of its ends a tubular'member' 30, which is providedthe end that the tubularpannier has been secured in place, as indicated in Figure 3, the sleeping bag or blanket roll 70 may then be placed above the pannier and supported by the upper bar 16 of frame 10. The pack cover 50 is then brought down so that grommets 50' can be lashed to 'grommets 72 which accept the strain caused bythe. heavy tension that can be applied by the securing heavy thongs or cords 40. The

wrap around cover 42 is provided at the desired points along its margin with a plurality of grommets, as at 46,,

so that the securing tie members 40 can be passed therethrough and achieve the final positioning of the duct'or canvas cover with respect fiap49.

Secured to the upper margin of This cover is prefsecured as by grommets 52 and suitable lashing erably thongs 40 to the upper margin of the wrap around cover 42. Means are further provided for the gathering of the margins of .cover 50 so that it will always have a .snug

fit to the load, and it is to be borne in mind that the load may vary in size through a wide range; This snug.

so any degree of puckering that is required, can be achieved and this has been'illustrated to a degree in Figure l. v h

Adapted for association as part of 'my pack is the pannier' 60, probably best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. v.This memberis formed, preferably, of a medium weight duck to the end that it'willhave adequate strength but no unnecessary weight, and this is formed substantially as a box with the material being stitched atthe various corners so astotgive the pannier 6t) abort-like effect and then to provide two flaps or coverportions, as 62 .and 63, whichare secured on one marginto opposite top sides of the pannie r.

the securing cover members 64 and .65.; 7 These are adaptedto be closed as by the zipper or hook fastener flaps are employed as in I ingfcord 40, which also 7 secured to frame members 12 and 14. When so 40 so there is no looseness'of the material. of the pannier,

butirather: it is lashed downsnugly on theieontents being carried and thus provides a means to frame member-10.. Cover 42 is provided with'the two' side flaps 4 8, and a'bottom wrap-around cover.

are free to'move within tunnels 54 Attached to; theother two sides so that they are oppositely "disposed, are

for definitely holding any suitable coveror may are in position on.-the lower-flap 49 of the wrap-around cover 42. A preferred lashing meansare thefltwo cords 40, which have been passed through tunnels 54 of cover 50. "When these are so employed, a very secure covering of the pack is provided with the tension upon cords 40 pucker the cover where required and-then to tending to bring it into tight fitting arrangement over the pannier itself. This form is pretty well illustrated in Figure 1.

Cover 58 should be provided exteriorlywith some form which may be provided with of pocket, as pocket 56,

V be hook fastener closed. The carrying pack is provided with the two carrying straps 36. These straps have the wide-upper portion as is common with carrying straps of this order and then a reduced width in the lower portion with some means for providing an adjustment in length as the double D ring 'unit illustrated at 74. At the lower ends, straps 36 should 7 preferably be provided with snaps, as. 75, for the easy engagement or dis-engagement'with eye rings 22. Straps 36 are doubled back onthemselves on their upperends to form loops as 76, which encircle the transverse bar28. This bar is vertically adjustable, as previously explained, by means of the sliding tubular members 30 and the adjustingscrew 32. It is desirable to bring out, however, that straps 36 are not anchored to bar 28 but rather are adjustably'positionable on this'bar. The fact that thejbar' is curved prevents any tendency for the two straps to. work unevenly toward the center of the bar. The curvaw ture causing them, if any movement is made, to normally work outwardly'and in about the same degree. When under load however, there is enough friction or engagealong the two sides of cover ment between the Web or leather straps 36 and bar 28 to hold it in position on the bar, yet the person carrying the pack can momentarily take theweight of the pack,.as

can then re-adjust the lateral byone hand on bar 18 and 7 that a new point of bearing position of the straps 36 so can be obtained on the shoulders. a very desirable characteristic of this. arrangement inthat it prevents the'formation of abrasions and the like of the skin which is'often quite common among inexperienced packers or personswho only engage in back packingfor 4 very short periods of the year;

Referring .to'Figure 2, I have illustrated a clip-on frame having the sidemembers' 80, a top bar 82,.whichis reinforced and=preferably"welded to side members 80, in

order tovprovide a triangular bearing point. This is very convenient as it provides a centering means,- for instance,

for an outboard motor, which might be clamped onto this.

bar which in the form illustrated gives sufficient bearing f for the clamp members bar members. A transverse bar is provided at 84 so as between the upper and .lower to prevent any portion of the outboard motor or similar loading sticking through into the pack and thus possibly causing a pressure point on the tangular rest portion 86, which motor propeller assembly or at least a convenient frame on which to lash the same,

load which it may be desired to carry.,

V Inorder to illustrate the wide'variety of. loading that can be usedwit h-my individual carrying pack I- have illus- This has proven to be back of the packer. At its lowermost extent theframe is provided with a rechas' an upaturned portion, as 87. This can provide a means for resting an outboard but it also provides a convenient arrangement for supporting any carton or box This auxiliary. frame is secured to the main frame 19by a plurality of Such screws and nuts trated in Figure 7 an auxiliary or detachable frame, as 90, which is provided with a semi-circular curved frame at 92, support-ing a canvas carrier 93. This carrier is in the form of a seat for an infant and is provided with open ings as 94, through which the infants legs may be extended in order to more-or-less secure them in place. Bar 92 normally provides sufiicient security for the child although an additional strap or belt may be passed around the child and around the frame 90. Particularly for the older infants it is desirable to provide a foot rest, as 96. In this instance I have illustrated a foot rest having vertical frame portions 98 adapted to telescope within the tubular portions 99 of frame 90. As before it is to be noted that this auxiliary frame clamps onto the main frame 10 by a plurality of U-shaped clamps 88. It is desirable to point out, however, that the upper portion of these auxiliary frames should be bent toward the main frame so that the vertical side members of the auxiliary frames and any cross members involved in their construction will be spaced sulhciently from the structure of the basic carrier that the curved transverse members, as 24 and 26 and 28 will have adequate room. Thus the cushioning efiect of the duck cover 42 stretched between the vertical side members, as 12 and 14 of the main carrier, will in no way be interfered with. It is desirable to have a definite air space between the pack and the individuals back or substantially so, in order first; that sweating will be reduced to a minimum, and particularly in cold countries it should be entirely avoided. It adds a great deal to the comfort and convenience to have the cushioning effect of the stretched duck against the carriers back.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of an individual carrying pack.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. An individual carrying pack, comprising: a light tube main frame having an inverted U-shaped portion providing spaced, parallel side bars and a head-protecting top bar, the side bar lower ends being joined by a transverse bottom bar with lateral extensions beyond said side bars having carrying strap-attaching eyes, a plurality of intermediate transverse frame members between said top and bottom bars and a vertically adjustable strapattaching cross member having tubular members at its ends slidably mounted on said side bars and manually adjustable securing means between said tubular members and said side bars, said intermediate frame members and said strap-attaching cross member being bowed backwardly away from the body of the user, a pair of adjustable length shoulder straps each having a loop on its upper end slidable on said stray-attaching cross member and having a snap at its lower end attached to the cor responding strap-attaching eye, a wrap-around cover having a central portion covering the major portion of said frame at the side facing the users back and having grommeted side flaps extending around said side bars and cords lacing the same together and said wrap-around cover having a grommeted bottom flap for lashing loads on said main frame, and said main frame having at spaced inter vals therealong loops to receive cords in lashing loads thereon and said wrap-around cover in the area of said loops having bound slits to pass said loops.

2. An individual carrying pack, comprising: a light tube main frame having spaced side bars, and connecting top and bottom bars, a pair of shoulder straps attached to and extending between upper and lower portions of said main frame, and an auxiliary frame detachably connected to said main frame rearwardly and substantially coplanar thereof, and means for attaching a load on the rearward side of said auxiliary frame, in which said auxiliary frame is adapted for supporting an outboard motor or the like, said auxiliary frame having side bars and connecting top and bottom bars, and said auxiliary frame having outward rearwardly of the plane of the auxiliary frame side bars an upper supporting bar, an intermediate supporting bar and a lower rest bar to which the corresponding portions of such outboard motor may be secured and rest.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, in which said upper supporting bar is in the form of a triangle in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said auxiliary frame side bars, said bottom bar of said auxiliary frame and said lower rest bar being in the form of a rectangle in a plane substantially normal to said plane of said auxiliary frame side bars and said lower rest bar having a rest member thereabove, said rest member, intermediate supporting bar and triangular upper supporting bar having at spaced intervals loops to receive cords in lashing loads thereon.

4. An individual carrying pack, comprising: a light tube main frame having spaced side bars, and connecting top and bottom bars, a pair of shoulder straps attached to and extending between upper and lower portions of said main frame, and an auxiliary frame detachably connected to said main frame rearwardly and substantially coplanar thereof, and means for attaching a load on the rearward side of said auxiliary frame, in which said auxiliary frame has side bars and connecting top and bottom bars, said auxiliary frame being attached to said main frame by manually operable securing means between the top and bottom bars of main and auxiliary frames, said top and bottom bars of said auxiliary frame being offset forwardly from the plane of said auxiliary frame side bars toward said main frame thereby holding the supported load from contact with the users body, and means on said auxiliary frame for securing a load thereto.

5. An auxiliary frame for an individual carrying pack, comprising: a pair of side bars, a top and a bottom bar connecting the ends of said side bars, means for attaching said top and bottom bars to the main frame of an individual carrying pack, means for securing a load to the rearward side of said auxiliary frame, and said top and bottom bars being offset forwardly of the plane of said side bars to hold the supported load from contact with the users body.

6. An auxiliary frame for supporting an outboard motor or the like on an individual carrying pack, comprising: a pair of side bars, an upper supporting bar, an intermediate supporting bar and a lower rest bar disposed outward rearwardly of the plane of the auxiliary frame side bars and secured to said side bars, said upper and intermediate bars and said rest bar being adapted for the securing of the corresponding portions of said outboard motor thereto, and means for securing said auxiliary frame to the main frame of an individual carrying pack.

7. The subject matter of claim 6, in which said upper supporting bar is in the form of a triangle in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said auxiliary frame side bars, said lower rest bar being in the form of a rectangle in a plane substantially normal to said plane of said auxiliary frame side bars, and loops for lashing the motor secured on said auxiliary frame at spaced intervals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,661 Nelson Aug. 19, 1924 1,816,510 Anderson July 28, 1931 2,456,247 Bernaw Dec. 14, 1948 2,537,864 Skaer Jan. 9, 1951 2,712,404 Miller July 5, 1955 2,742,212 Siftan Apr. 17, 1956 2,764,327 Stevenson Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,294 Switzerland Sept. 2, 1940 

